Category Archives: Workouts

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Who doesn’t love recess? Well what if I told you there is a gym that turned recess in to a workout? Monkey bars, relay races, obstacle courses and a live DJ spinning awesome mixes…and it’s all in the service of providing a muscle sculpting, fat burning workout!

This month I had the extreme pleasure of checking out Seattle’s Rival Fitness club for KING5 TV’s daytime show New Day Northwest. Click the image above to see the video and read all about it!

If you live in Seattle you will definitely want to pay Rival Fitness a visit. The gym is all about making fitness fun and accessible, and along with innovative classes like Recess and Field Day, Rival features some of the most cutting edge equipment including VIPERs, sandbacks, ropes and, of course, monkey bars.

Rival is also the only gym in Seattle that features Indo Rowing classes. The Indo Rower is a water resistance based indoor rowing machine that provides a full body, low impact workout. It also means business… get ready to sweat and sculpt your entire body in a way you’ve never experienced before.

I tried a few classes during my free week pass and each one blew my mind. Tabata, Field Day and Shockwave…all incredible, fun, innovative workouts. Rival is like Christmas morning for anyone who loves fitness, there is almost too much good stuff. The best part is the warm, friendly, helpful environment that makes fitness fun and everyone feel welcome!

Ever wonder how the lovely ladies on the Bachelor stay in such amazing shape? For newly engaged Catherine Giudici and (one of my personal favorites who I was hoping would be the Bachelorette or at least find real love with Kalon) Lindzi Cox… it’s all about The Bar Method.

The Bar Method is one of my favorite workouts and studios in Seattle. The ballet barre workouts are some of the hardest I have ever done, and the studio is famous for transforming people’s bodies and attitudes about exercise. Seriously, you will never look at a set of two pound weights the same way, this class will shred you! (You can read my class review here.)

Just in time for summer and bathing suit season, Bar Method is hosting a “60-Day Get Bathing Suit Ready Challenge”. Not only will you sculpt your arms, flatten your abs and tone your legs (ideal for bathings suits!) you will also raise money for a good cause. Check out the details…

Challenge

Commit to taking Bar Method a minimum of three days per week during the months of April and May

Commit to clean eating and a healthy lifestyle

Bar Method will donate $10 on behalf of each person who completes 24+ classes and $20 on behalf of each person who completes 48+ classes to Ben Towne Foundation

Join Bar devotee and Team USA Olympic swimmer and world record holder Ariana Kukors (someone who is no stranger to fitness or wearing a bathing suit). Ariana will be taking the Challenge herself as well as sharing motivation, assisting with goal setting and revealing her best strategies for overcoming obstacles and achieving your dreams.
The kick-off will also provide a special opportunity to meet Bar Method enthusiasts
Lindzi Cox and Catherine Giudici (schedule permitting) from The Bachelor, who will
also be taking the 60-Day ‘Get Bathing Suit Ready’ Challenge! In addition to taking the
Challenge, they will be offering their own insights, humor and motivation.

I think challenges are a great way to motivate yourself to workout and if meeting a gold medalist, the Bachelor ladies, getting bathing suit ready and raising money for a good cause aren’t enough, there are also prizes!

Prizes:

Activewear from Prima Studios, Lululemon, Lucy, Zella and Athleta

90-minute wardrobe styling session with fashion expert Darcy Camden

Nutrition consultation with Certified Nutritionist Deborah Enos

Customized facial from Esthetician Reini Greene

Blowout and makeup session at Swink Style Bar

Cut and color from Coupe Rokei

Manicure and pedicure from Julep

Spray tanning from Seattle Sun Tan

Massage from Vida Spa

FREE Bar Swag Bags and FREE month of unlimited Bar classes

HOW TO WIN:

Take 24+ classes and get one entry in to the drawing

Take 48+ classes and get two entries into the drawing

Bonus entry in drawing for submitting a transformation story at the end of the

Challenge (before and after pictures are encouraged)

I have tried and love The Bar Method (plus many of the prize places above… seriously amazing!). I just wanted to let you know this is not a sponsored post, I just happen to love this place and think you will too:).

I think this is a fabulous event and it’s a great way to try a new class or challenge yourself to change your body! Let me know if you go and I hope to see my Seattle ladies there!

Anyone else feel totally panicked without their smartphone? I mean, when it’s like in the other room…yeah me, too:) I use mine for directions, checking news, taking photos, my horoscope, listening to music, “vining”, finding out how long it will be raining, checking “daily puppy”…etc, etc. etc.

I also love using my phone as a workout buddy! I freelance stories for Seattle NBC station KING5, as part of my work with their new HealthLInk Initiative, I stopped by their daytime show King5′s New Day Northwest yesterday to talk about “3 Fitness Apps that Turn Your Smartphone Into A Personal Trainer.” I love, love , love visiting New Day, everyone is so nice and the show is fabulous, if you live in Seattle you must check it out and/or DVR

Watch the piece to find out about 3 awesome apps (there are all free by the way) and there is also an article and photo gallery with more in depth info!

Enjoy and let me know if you download any and which fitness apps you like to use!

This is one of my favorite series of exercises to do at the end of my total body strength training or lower body strength training days. It’s hard to find any better exercises out there that work the outer thighs and glutes and I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for the best way to work that area;)

I love that you only need a stretchy band to do these exercises so you can do them in your living room. With shorter hemlines this time of year…this workout is definitely worth adding to your routine. You’re going to feel this one so you’ll know it’s working as it targets, tightens and tones your butt and outer thighs!

There are 4 different exercises and aim for 10, 15 or 20 reps of each.

The Side Squat Walk: each time you take two steps in a direction that counts as one rep.

The Side Squat: one side step right and one side step left equals one rep

The Walk Up and Back: Each time you walk up and back equals one rep

The Outer Thigh Blast: Go for at least 20 reps here… an abduction to the right then to the left equals one rep. This one is killer but it gets the job done;)

If you want you can go through this twice or three times if you have super stregnth and try to do it two times a week.

Happy Workout!

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more videos, and workout!

I’m always looking for ways to spice up my runs. I love throwing in a few intervals and combining some principles from high intensity interval training to keep the workouts short but still super effective. This workout uses one minute intervals, 30 second intervals and a four minute tabata protocol interval section (tabata intervals use 20 seconds of intense work and 10 seconds of rest) to burn tons of calories and increase your speed in only 35 minutes.

You can do this workout outside or inside on the treadmill. If you’re running outside or if you’re getting started with a workout plan and you’d like to walk instead, use the RPE in the right hand column instead of relying on the MPH speeds . The RPE, or rate of perceived exertion, is a scale of 1-10…1 is sitting on the couch, 5 is a comfortable workout (you know you’re working out but you can still keep up a conversation) and 10 is working as hard as you can. Use that scale as a guide to change your speeds during the intervals and recovery work. Also the speeds are just a guideline…feel free to go slower or faster if you like.

This workout has 3 sections you can do one, two or all three parts . Here is the breakdown

Section A: 4 x one minute sprints

Section B: 4 x 30 seconds sprints

Section C: 4 minute tabata section,

8 x 20 second sprint and 10 second rest

If you’re in a treadmill….”step off treadmill” means stand on the side rail area on either side of the belt for the 10 seconds of rest. If you’re running or walking just slow down to a slow walk or a slow jog for this part

You can get the printable version with tips and a breakdown of the 3 sections broken down here. HIIT Treadmill Workout

I always need great music while I’m working out, so here are a few songs that are totally motivating me through my runs right now!